Plus Letters To the Editor
Sven Davis is a funny guy—or so he tells me. Naturally, then, when he expressed interest in writing for GT again, after going missing from these pages for the last two years, I was thrilled. His pitch made me laugh, too: “Death: Doing It Right the First Time.”
A few days after we agreed on a deadline, though, I started to have second thoughts. Was a humor piece about death—even about preparing for death—really going to work? And would there be any point, in the end? (No pun intended.)
I should have known from Davis’ past pieces for GT that I had nothing to worry about. His cover story this week is both deftly funny and a fascinating, informative look at the complexities and absurdities of how we prepare for death. Welcome back, Mr. Davis.
Elsewhere in this issue, Aric Sleeper takes a detailed look at the grand jury report on deaths at the Santa Cruz Main Jail, and we bid farewell to Michael Bryant, who in his time as KZSC’s station manager earned it national acclaim. I first met Bryant not long after he joined the station, and over the years I’ve been shocked that the meteoric rise of KZSC under his watch hasn’t gotten more attention locally. Hopefully, this article will provide some insight into his legacy. He deserves it.
Steve Palopoli | Editor-in-Chief
Political Splits
I had looked forward to the consolidation of the Santa Cruz Weekly and Good Times into one publication. I had thought it would be a step forward for our community. I am disappointed.
Good Times claims to reflect the “voice, character and spirit of our unique community.” The commenting rules include to not “stalk or otherwise harass another.”
The Take Back Santa Cruz activist group has a varied member list—from conservatives to liberals, from teenagers to adults, from IT executives to stay-at-home moms, from artists to business owners. In short, a microcosm of our community. Editor Steve Palopoli has allowed several letters to be published that bash this group. TBSC has been voted the “Best Activist Group in Santa Cruz” several times. A founding member, Analicia Cube, was profiled favorably in a recent issue. They are not, as a group, advocates of hate and fear mongering.
Also, there are conservative and—egads!—Republican Santa Cruz residents. A recent article, “Capital Games,” bashed this group as responsible for all of society’s ills and everything that is wrong with the world. Most of the language was hateful, exaggerated, and certainly was not a shining example of journalism. In short, a troll-like rant.
Does the editor wish to continue the polarization of political opinion, or to publish fair and balanced reporting? Does the editor wish to mandate one set of expected behaviors in its online forum, but allow anonymous letter writers and its staff to disregard the same?
Don Honda | Santa Cruz
I’m proud that we’ve long been a forum for letters laying out a spectrum of opinions about TBSC—supportive, critical, and anywhere in between, from any and all political affiliations. That’s what this forum is indeed all about.—Editor
ONLINE COMMENTS
Re: Laird on Pride History
Thanks to you, John, and the many others who have fought, and continue to fight, this difficult battle. Though there is always more to do, the culture is changing, and we are all better for it. This is not just about gay vs. heterosexuality, it is about both embracing our differences and acknowledging the basic fact that we all are very much the same, sharing the same needs and desires as our fellow human beings.
-Jon Girvetz
Beautifully written, and very evocative of those years in Santa Cruz. I was there, John, and remember all of it—and you—very well. May freedom continue to ring from every mountaintop, and thank you for your courage and persistence.
-Lee Collins
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RUN LIKE THE WIND A Chinese crested dog races across Rio Del Mar State Beach. Photograph by Randy Maldonado.
CCA’s Big Day
Santa Cruz took a step toward cheaper, more renewable energy this week when the county was one of three around the Central Coast to benefit from a grant to study Community Choice Aggregation (CCA). 80 percent of Marin residents prefer their local county-owned CCA, which offers low rates and electricity from sustainable sources, over PG&E.
Mountain Ride
If there’s more to life than winning, it stands to reason that there’s more to going fast than coming in first. The 16th annual Santa Cruz Mountains Challenge bicycle ride is not a race, but it does cover a lot of ground, with routes ranging from 34 to 131 miles. For more information on the July 26 event and how to sign up, visit santacruzcycling.org.
“What is a fear of living? It’s being preeminently afraid of dying.”
— Maya Angelou
